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Zee Bangla hogs limelight at Sunfeast Pratidin TV awards
MUMBAI: Zee Bangla has taken home the maximum silverware at the Sunfeast Pratidin TV awards. The Bengali channel from the Zee stable bagged 15 awards in all.
As for the other Bangla channels, Akash Bangla bagged 13 while ETV and Tara Bangla won two awards each.
The award function was held at Science City, Kolkata, on 7 May.
Among those present at the function were directors Sandip Ray and Prabhat Roy, actresses Debasree Roy, Tanusree Shankar, Mamata Shankar and veteran actress Sabitri Chottopadhyay.
Dance performances by television artistes and a skit based on the lines of serial production were entertaining breathers, filling up as breaks between the award ceremony.
According a company release, readers of Sambad Pratidin, a Bengali daily newspaper, were asked to poll for nominees. It was from the readers’ poll that the winners lists were drawn.
Zee Bangla business head JK Ray said, “It is great to walk home with the maximum number of awards of a viewers’ choice award. Knowing that viewers love our channel and our programmes the most reinforces our commitment to delivering the best in entertainment to them. With this kind of support from our viewers, Zee Bangla will definitely reach new heights in the time to come.”
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the lifetime award to Sri Jochon Dastidar (posthumous) a pioneer of Bengali TV serials and founder of Sonex TV Productions.
The award was received by his daughter and national award winning actress Kheyali Ghosh Dastidar.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
